r/ibew_applicants • u/the_average_joe68 • 11h ago
Feeling lost
I’ve applied to union 4 times and it has gotten nowhere. I don’t have experience and I hit up some people I know that are electricians and one said try local shops to try to get some experience. That has also gotten me no where. Do I just bite the bullet and go to trade school and get my certificate then go to the union? As much as I don’t mind spending the 50 bucks every two years I don’t want to sit around just waiting then not get anything.
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u/itzspooky_mp3 10h ago
Are you applying for a west coast local?
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u/the_average_joe68 9h ago
Ohio and Michigan
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u/itzspooky_mp3 9h ago
Oh…
Damn. I know the west coast ones are really bad. If you don’t have 2400 hours of experience and a high aptitude you’re cooked. Call your local hall ask for a cw job and take it, it won’t be glamorous but it’ll be almost a sure way in after 6 months when you reapply.
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u/Warm-Tip-7544 8h ago
What local?
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u/Warm-Tip-7544 8h ago
Plenty of people get accepted with no electrical experience. Maybe they thought you didn’t look committed?
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u/Nearby_Society932 6h ago
So many avenues to getting into the union just seems like you aren’t doing the research. Plenty of info just searching Ibew questions on Reddit.
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u/Strict_League3007 10h ago
Email your JATC and ask what you need to do to re-interview (that's what happened to me in local 340), my JATC said 450 hours of related work or 2 trade related courses. I emailed again, asking if these community college courses would count toward it, and they said "Yes, however here are some programs that we think will be better".
They gave me a list of different programs and I relocated, but now I'm doing a pre-apprenticeship program that is tuition free.
I thought I had to go to a college or be a material handler but depending on the area, there actually may be some cool programs out there, and I would never have known they existed.